Striking a Davidic tone, the head of the Israeli army’s Givati infantry brigade, Col. Ofer Winter, sent a letter several days ago to those of his troops amassed on the border of Gaza. In it, Col. Winter urged his soldiers to join him in asking God for victory against those who blaspheme His name.
The letter was sent before it was certain that a Gaza ground incursion would be launched. Now that it has, it seems more relevant than ever to reprint Col. Winter’s letter, which was much maligned by more secular elements of Israeli society.
Below is a full translation of what Col. Winter had to say to his soldiers who are now going house-to-house through the streets of Gaza seeking to eliminate the Hamas threat:
History has chosen us to be the sharp edge of the bayonet of fighting the “Gazan” terrorist enemy which curses, defames and abuses the God of Israel. We have practiced and prepared for this time and we take upon ourselves the mission with full humility, and being willing to endanger ourselves and give our lives to protect our families, our nation and our homeland.
We will act together forcefully and with resolve, with initiative, and with deceptive tricks and aim for contact with the enemy. We will do everything to live up to the mission and wipe out the enemy and remove the threat from the Nation of Israel. We will not return without acting.
We will do everything to return our boys safely. Using all means at our disposal and with all required force.
I trust you, each and every one of you, to act in that spirit, in the spirit of Israeli fighters who are the pioneers leading the camp. The spirit of Givati. I turn my eyes to the sky and call with you, “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is One.” The Lord God of Israel make our path successful, as we are about to fight for Your People, Israel, against an enemy who blasphemes your name. In the name of the IDF fighters and in particular the fighters and commanders of [this] Brigade, bring to pass what is written: “For the Lord your God goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies and to save you.” And we all answer, “Amen.”
Together and only together we will win.
Ofer Winter, Colonel Commander of the Givati Brigade
